Water Rescue Programs

Ocean Rescue’s core water rescue training programs cover techniques and knowledge from a basic level to very advanced. While NFPA standards guide course content and delivery, we still allow time and opportunity for customizing to your specific response requirements. Entire water rescue courses may be formulated to your specifications, whether your application is freshwater lakes or rocks and cliffs along the oceans. Most are available in 1 to 3-day formats and may be combined to cover a range of skills and techniques over 2 to 5 days. Technician Level programs typically cover 5 days of training.

In addition water rescue response and safety programs are available for commercial facilities along waterways and other aquatic environments

Water Rescue - Awareness Level: Basic water safety and rescue training is a must for any department having a mandate to respond to water emergencies. All First Responders who may be called to a water emergency as part of a department response should be certified to at least this basic level, as stated by the NFPA. This 8-hour program meets the standard of NFPA 1006 and 1670 at the Awareness level.

Water Rescue - Operations Level: Departments conducting water rescue operations where rescuers enter the water for hands on or near-shore swimming rescues, or use boats as part of the rescue operation should have individuals qualified to the Operations Level. All Ocean Rescue 3-day courses meet and exceed NFPA 1006 and 1670 standards for Operations Level.

Water Rescue – Technician Level:

Technicians are trained in addition essential skills, especially for more complex environments. These include rigging systems and more advanced rope work, night and limited visibility operations, coordinating with a variety of water craft and working with victims on rocky shorelines. This program is both challenging and physically demanding. In addition Technicians have the skill and knowledge to plan, supervise and direct rescue operations in many water rescue environments.

Swiftwater Rescue: River currents, rapids and eddies may produce hazardous rescue conditions requiring specialized training. Just getting to a stranded or trapped person may be extremely difficult. What are your options? The rescue of persons affected by floods caused by torrential rains, hurricanes and typhoons and even tsunamis are becoming an ever more frequent mission for First Responders. Flood waters are usually moving waters, and swiftwater rescue training helps prepare the Responder for the job. Swiftwater and flood rescue programs are available at the NFPA Awareness, Operations or Technician levels.

Surface Ice Rescue:The rescue of persons who have fallen through ice may endanger all on-sceneresponders. Reaching the victim can often be a problem, yet speed of response is critical as persons in ice cold water will lose their ability to help quickly.Swift and appropriate action can save a life.Ice rescue is water rescue.

Surface ice rescue courses are available at NFPA Awareness and Operations level.